Antifungal, antiradical, anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activities of essential oils of some medicinal plants of the Annonaceae family of Chad and Cameroon

Abstract

Yeasts infections, cancer and other diseases associated with free radical generation and inflammation are currently a critical public health issue that needs innovative control measures. In order to search for solutions, this study was designed to assess the antifungal, radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic activities of essential oils from four Annonaceae plants (Monodora myristica, Xylopia aethiopica, and Xylopia parviflora) collected in Chad and Cameroon. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation. The antifungal activity of the oils was determined using the microdilution method; and their antiradical activity was determined using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the inhibitory effect of oils against the 5-lipoxigenase. Flow cytometry was used to assess the effect of essential oils on cell cycle. The essential oils of X. aethiopica, X. parviflora, and M. myristica inhibited the growth of Candida albicans ATCC24433, Candida parapsilosis ATCC22019, and Cryptococcus neoformans IP95026 with MIC values ranging from 5 to 10 mg/mL. Essential oils of X. aethiopica, X. parviflora, and M. myristica showed free radical scavenging potential with SC50­ values between 8.9 and 11.74 g/L. The oils samples at 100 μg/mL from both origins significantly inhibited cancer cell (MCF-7) and normal epithelial cells of the eye (ARPE-19) growth, with a notable cell cycle arrest at phases G0/G1 and S at 72h respectively. According to the findings of this study, essential oils from Annonaceae plants contain bioactive secondary metabolites that have the potential to inhibit pathogenic yeasts, free radicals, inflammatory and cancer cells. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and formalize their eventual application to control the targeted affections.